Ware County Schools
Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment is from Monday, October 20,
through Friday, November 7.
Click here for additional information.
Enroll Now!
Non-Medical Enrollment and Benefits Portal
The non-medical benefits are dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), life insurance, disability, and Critical Illness. Access by clicking "Enroll Now" above and view your current benefits, make updates for the plan year, and update your life insurance beneficiary. To complete an election, select the appropriate event and click "Begin Event."
State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) Enrollment (Medical)
You may access https://shbp.georgia.gov/ or call (800) 610-1863 for medical plan information.
Important Benefits Information
Additional product and carrier information can be found on the Resources page. In addition to this website, the Benefits Service Center is another resource for enrollment assistance, benefits questions, and Annual Enrollment Support. We can help with:
- Benefits Questions
- Enrollments | Changes in Elections
- Claims Assistance
- Review | Confirmation of Current Benefit Elections
- Update of Life Insurance Beneficiary Information
Understanding Social Security and Retirement Benefits
As a school system employee, it’s important to know whether you’re contributing to Social Security. For Ware County Schools, Social Security taxes are being withheld from your paycheck, and you are earning credits toward federal retirement, disability, or survivor benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. To qualify for these benefits, most people need 40 credits (roughly 10 years of work).
You are also enrolled in a pension/retirement plan: either TRS, PSERS, or ERS. If you’re unsure of your status, review your paycheck or reach out to your Payroll Department for more information. You can find more information about the retirement plans here:
TRS: https://www.trsga.com/
PSERS: https://www.ers.ga.gov/public-school-employees-retirement-system
ERS: https://www.ers.ga.gov/
A copy of the 2025 New Hire Enrollment Guide is available by clicking here.
A copy of the 2025 SHBP Decision Guide is available here.
Questions?
Call us at (844) 703-1852 or send us an email at benefits@warecountyschoolsbenefits.com.
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2026 Hospital Indemnity
Hospital stays can put a significant strain on any budget, and often, the necessary care cannot be postponed even if it impacts your finances. Hospital Indemnity provides a lump-sum confinement benefit and daily payments for hospital stays due to sickness or injury. Benefits are paid directly to you and can be used for any purpose, such as medical bills or other expenses during recovery. This gives you financial flexibility to use the funds as you see fit, whether to cover hospital bills or to manage additional costs that arise during your recovery.
2025 Vision
Our vision changes over time, so you may not be aware of your need for vision correction. That’s why an annual eye exam is critical to keeping your view of the world sharp and clear. Vision Insurance helps offset the costs of routine checkups and vision correction wear that may be prescribed. Routine eye exams are a preventive measure for maintaining your overall health and wellness, and your doctor will look for vision problems and signs of serious medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, and even cancer.
2025 Dental
Dental Insurance is designed to offer you coverage for common dental care issues and to help you budget for dental services. Under these plans, the first $250 (Standard) or $300 (Premium) of services are covered at 100%, and then additional services are covered at 50% up to $3,000 (Standard) or $4,400 (Premium). The Premium plan also includes coverage for orthodontia for adults and children.
Accident
Accidents are usually followed by a series of bills. Even if you have medical insurance, you may still have to cover out-of-pocket costs. If you suffer from a fracture, dislocation, or other covered accidental injury, Accident Insurance can help offset unexpected medical expenses, such as emergency room bills, deductibles, and co-payments. When an unexpected injury happens, Accident Insurance can help offset costs that are not covered by your medical plan.
Critical Illness
Critical illness insurance helps you and your family maintain financial security during the recovery period of a serious medical event, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. The benefit provides a monetary benefit to help with the out-of-pocket medical and non-medical expenses of the illness, and coverage is available to both employees and their families.
Retirement & Savings
The Ware County Schools retirement program is made up of multiple parts: Social Security and either the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) or the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), and supplemental retirement plan options. If you want to learn more about how our retirement plans work, and how to make sure you get the most out of your retirement, click the link below.
Flexible Spending (FSA)
The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax funds that are available for healthcare and dependent day care expenses. You may enroll in the Healthcare FSA for medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, and other related expenses and / or the Dependent Care FSA, primarily for dependent day care expenses.
Wellness
ShareCare is the wellness program vendor for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), and they provide comprehensive well-being and incentive programs for members. As you complete wellness activities, you will earn points in your Health Incentive Account to help offset your medical expenses. High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) members must meet a portion of the deductible before well-being points may be used.
Term Life Insurance with AD&D
Term Life Insurance can help provide financial protection for your family if you pass away. The money received from a life insurance policy could help your family with both everyday and future expenses, including medical bills, funeral costs, utilities, college tuition, and mortgage payments. Term Life Insurance provides you with coverage as long as you continue paying your monthly premium.
Your cost will vary depending on your age and amount of coverage you elect. It is important to assess your current and future financial obligations to help you determine the coverage that's right for you. Our Benefits Service Center Specialists can help you make the right decision for you and your family.
Vision
Our vision changes over time, so you may not be aware of your need for vision correction. That’s why an annual eye exam is critical to keeping your view of the world sharp and clear. Vision Insurance helps offset the costs of routine checkups and vision correction wear that may be prescribed. Routine eye exams are a preventive measure for maintaining your overall health and wellness, and your doctor will look for vision problems and signs of serious medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, and even cancer.
Dental
Dental Insurance is designed to offer you coverage for common dental care issues and to help you budget for dental services. Under these plans, the first $250 (Standard) or $300 (Premium) of services are covered at 100%, and then additional services are covered at 50% up to $3,000 (Standard) or $4,400 (Premium). The Premium plan also includes coverage for orthodontia for adults and children.
State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP)
There are two health plan carriers available to employees and their families: Anthem and UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Each carrier has multiple plan options available, and each plan includes coverage for preventive care, visits to primary care and specialty care providers, coverage for hospital stays, and visits to urgent care & the emergency room. When thinking about your health benefits, don’t look at just one thing - like your contributions or the deductible - be sure to consider the whole picture!
